Spectrum Computer Depot

The worst. don’t go.
My computer wouldn’t reboot after I made changes to the system registry, my bad. Took it to them hoping to lose as little data as possible. After two days they called and said they could reset it to the last saved date which was about 2 weeks before, I said fine. When I went to pick it up it had been restored to factory original. all data lost. I could have done that. paid $ 65 to lose all my data (I had some backed up but was hoping to save more)

service with a smile… no techie attitude, excellent, PROFESSIONAL service at VERY REASONABLE price… came in with a very frustrating internect connection problem and ALVIN immediately got on it, asked a few questions and in minutes flat he fixed the problem. What a great relief, and what a great job. I HIGHLY recommend Spectrum Computer Depot for your friendly, knowledgeable, professional service for your computer needs… Thanx again ALVIN ! — GREAT JOB !!!

Great service, knowledgeable, fast, inexpensive.
My iMac was fixed, cleaned, upgraded and everything was saved.

I brought my laptop in because my screen would only work when it was bent a certain way, meaning there was something wrong with the connection. We brought it in, and paid $ 100 to get it fixed. We waited a long time and finally I got sick of them having my laptop for weeks and went to the shop to get it back. They gave it back to me and my laptop DIDN’T EVEN TURN ON. We basically paid $ 100 for them to ruin my computer and after yelling at them for doing so, they said they would deduct $ 100 from a computer if we bought it from THEM. YEAH, RIGHT. Like I would buy anything from them!!!
I wish I could give no stars because I regret ever going to them. Please everyone, do NOT go to this shop. Unless you want to pay them to ruin your things.

I can’t believe that there hasn’t been additional feedback recently on this place.
Chris and the guys here are always so busy.
They have recently helped me build two new computers and updated a laptop.
All were done promptly and professionally and at a fair cost.
If something doesn’t work out just right, they will accommodate
fine-​tuning the computer to the owner’s preference and give
guidance in it’s operation. This is a great neighborhood resource.

Went there many months ago to purchase several video adapters for a client of mine. When I inquired about refunding parts I don’t end up using the guy said there’s a 15% restocking fee. I ended up purchasing some cheap ebay parts totalling $ 45+. I finally had time to go back to refund $ 8 of goods from the original $ 45+. The guy gave me some douchebag attitude and asked if I knew there was a 7 day refund policy and pointed to it on the invoice. I just left and should have just left the $ 8 worth of parts with them (2x vga to dvi adapters).
It’d be nice if they were a bit nicer about it, I was just hoping to get some parts back to them for some change heh

This is my default computer store; I’ve been going there for years. They’ve built 3 or 4 systems for me. When I need work on one of their systems, which is rare, they’ve solved it quickly, and often for free. When I buy a new system, I usually give my old one to someone who can use it. Spectrum will set up the old computer for the new user, and it’s good for years of service for the new user.
I’ve also brought other people’s PC’s, laptops, and netbooks here for repair. The work is always done well, quickly, and at a reasonable price.
I keep checking out their new systems online but, honestly, the one they built for me a couple of years ago is still so fast and healthy that I don’t need a new one.
Spectrum Computer Depot has been taking care of my computer needs for years. I hope they stay around for as long as I use computers. I have no reason to go anywhere else. They’ll build my next system, too.

went into buy a new power adapter for a laptop. guy charges me 40 bucks… says its 75 bucks at best buy. Me like a dope believes him and buys it from him. I go home and check the price on amazon…19 bucks with free delivery. These guys ripped me off. I would skip this place and find an honest place to shop.

So much cheaper than OfficeMax! They have what you need and they are knowledgeable and friendly. Before they try to sell you a new item, they will let you know how much a used item would be. Often their used items are in great condition and are a better deal :) I went in here today to get a new adapter for my dell laptop (an oldie but a goodie). At OfficeMax they were selling for $ 79.99. I got a great one from here for $ 20!

«Swift turn-​around time, courteous, and outstanding customer service!»
I don’t normally write reviews, but good service deserve a good praise. I would recommend this to any Mac or PC person in need of assistance, and is looking for a reasonable price.

I went back to get a sound card. I figured even they could get my audio upgraded, and they are in my neighborhood, and I am one of those buy locally kind of people. They installed one but it didn’t come with a box and now they don’t know what brand it is and cannot assist me in getting customer service. They cannot set it up to play anything but stereo, which naturally is not the reason anyone would buy a sound card. They really are freaking useless.
Hey Unilocal,can I give em no stars?

This computer store is located two blocks from me. Often, I’d peek into the store and see the shelves filled with sun bleached boxes and wondered what the inside was like during the day.
When I had a minor compute issue I got to fulfill my curiosity. As I opened the door, the strong smell of dust and mildew hit me. I looked at glass cases filled with absolute crap electronics that they sell at the discount stores. I was snapped out of the horrible smell by two employees behind the counter who were laughing and throwing insults at each other.
I started to regret going to the store but I wanted to give them a chance. So after an uncomfortable minute of watching the two guys behind the counter play «grab ass» one of the guys finally came to the counter. I took out my laptop and showed them the problem. Since I’m asian but lazy, I already had the part that needed to be replaced. I showed them what needed to be done (a minor soldering job) and told them about a website that had a youtube video that illustrated the repair.
Now the problem is something that anyone with little experience could do in their sleep. The person told me he had to figure out if he could fix and jumped on a computer. I could tell the guy was online chatting by the pace of his keystrokes and he didn’t use a mouse. I figured the dude was either
Option 1. Chatting with someone online if they could fix the laptop. This means that the shop basically outsources the work which is as useful as me going to Best Buy for the repair.
Or
Option 2. The guy was checking in with his Thai Boy hooker friend he met on a wild night out the guys from Hangover 2.
Since I’m a nice guy, I’m giving the employee the benefit of the doubt and assume the former.
After all this, the guy finally finishes chatting and tells me he can’t fix it but I should bring it to another shop he recommends. WTF! No thanks buddy. If these two shops are related, there’s a good chance that the business is co-​located in one of those shady massage parlors downtown that specialize in happy endings.
If you wonder where I finally got my laptop fixed, look no further than Craigslist. As a business you’re screwed more than biracial couple at a Tea Party Convention, if Craigslist is providing a better service that what you have to offer.

I asked from Office D/​Arguello to Rad Shack/​Clement & points in between for a good lap top repair service. The hard part has been going back to all these places to recommend this one. All pc services have the up front charge that diminish the final cost yet they did a keyboard replacement for me on a lap top that was priceless. Forget the tech talk– Best Buy tried that with me with the geek promising, ‘you’ll be back.’ I didn’t, just wasn’t impressed with lingo. What did impress me was the replacement keyboard I got at Spectrum. Average service time but it beat having to go back to Valencia St. And the lap top is better for it.

I’ve brought my PC to them a few times. The first time was fine, they did a good job. The most recent visit however, was confusing — there was a bit of a language barrier — and they fixed a hardware problem by creating a new problem elsewhere. (They basically used a paperclip to hold together two parts — an amateur job.) I’m going to go elsewhere from now on.
They mean well, and the location is convenient for me, but they’re just not up to par. Last complaint — I had to keep calling them to check in on how my computer was doing. They did not initiate timely communication. They’re too laid back for my taste, and I’d prefer a more professional environment.

Do yourself a favor and don’t come to this place, especially for laptop repairs. Came in for a check up on my laptop since it wouldn’t turn on all the way, but the power lights would come on. After a week, they gave me a call and said they didn’t know what was wrong with it. They wouldn’t even give a refund on the fee I paid for the diagnosis.
Scratch that. Don’t come here for anything at ALL. They don’t have much stock on computer parts and overcharge for just about everything. Fifteen dollars for a thermaltake case fan? I think not.

I took my desktop to them having first identified the problem as either the PSU, mobo or CPU, but I lacked the equipment to test further.
They initially estimated a 24 hour tech-​and-​replacement that ended up closer to 36 hours, with me having to chase them by phone.
Their initial $ 60 service fee was explained as covering «any work done», but in replacing the PSU, they added an additional $ 50 service fee (which I’d been told over the phone I wouldn’t be charged), but then slightly-​undercharged me for PSU by $ 10.
Their communication over all of this quickly fell into them pretending to not understand English as well as they did a few minutes ago as they obviously fudged the numbers and left me in «pay it or we keep it» position.
Even that isn’t my primary complaint.
For a hardware problem, they saw fit to attach my hard-​drives (I’d deliberately left them unattached since it wasn’t a software issue), and then use hacking software to wipe all of my system passwords and gain full access to my system.
Since this was never a software issue, they had no need to gain access to my OS or data, and the unnecessary invasion of privacy (combined with their other dubious behavior), will have me steering well clear in the future.

I’ve been a customer of Spectrum since 1996. They, and San Francisco Computer Center (now closed) were my favorite places to buy cases, motherboards, CPUs and power supplies.
They were reasonable, they respected the customer, and in return, I never abused their good will. Ever. Instead, I directed others to them over the years to buy their office computer equipment.
Then something changed. To be precise, not someTHING, but someONE. The guy in charge let go of his assistants, and replaced them with teenagers that I, and those I know, can most accurately describe as «scummy little shits».
If you come to the store and get to deal with the owner, you’ll have good service. At least, on paper — after all, you don’t know what the «scummy little shits» will do to your system while you’re away.
If you deal with the «scummy little shits» directly, they won’t be above mangling the math in their favor, and they won’t break it down for you to explain it. Instead they will look at you, as you do the math in front of them, smirking at you and going «…soo… are you taking it or what…».
After a recent experience trying to return a peripheral that went bad 2 weeks after they sold it, and getting royally ripped off and treated like garbage, I will not visit this store again. My loyalty has its limits.

When my Dell D520 laptop monitor died, I called these folks and was told that they could indeed fix it. They asked me to bring my computer into their shop and pay a diagnostic fee for them to figure out whether I needed to replace the entire LED or merely the backlight. I was told they would call me with the result and an estimate for the repair, but they did not call.
When I called them they quoted me roughly $ 400 for the repair to replace the LED. Every time I followed up they gave me the run around, saying they had trouble getting the replacement part. The bottom line is they gave me an incorrect diagnosis, kept my laptop for almost 2 weeks, charged me a diagnostic fee, and still didn’t fix the problem.
In complete contrast, Moniserv fixed my laptop by replacing the backlight with a part they had in stock. I left with a working computer for $ 150 in just an hour. If you have a monitor or screen problem — Moniserv is a much, much better option.

Phone call:
ME-​Does your shop do reflow soldering to fix the Mac iBook G¾ video chip problems?
SHOP– Uhhhhhh, can you bring your computer down to the store?
ME– I just need to know if you do that type of repair at your shop.
SHOP– Uhhhhh, let me connect you to the Mac guy…
SHOP2– Hello?
ME– Hey, I’ve got my G4 iBook diagnosed and just need a shop to resolder the video chip to the logic board for me. Can you do it?
SHOP2– Uhhhhhh, that can’t be done. You need a new logic board.
#1 Glad I didn’t agree to waste my time going down to their shop.
#2 No, I don’t just need to replace the whole logic board. I just need a qualified person to make a repair, not some part-​swapper dude to sell me a whole new board.

Fast, professional, and inexpensive no nonsense computer store. The store itself isn’t very pretty. As a matter of fact I came down here last week I thought they were going out of business. They sure weren’t. So don’t let the lack of product on the shelves fool ya!
WARNING: You’ve got to have some sort of knowledge about computers to communicate clearly with these folk. If not, The Geek Squad may be for you.